Press Release
April 26, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brittany Racca
(337) 365-1540
(888) 942-3742
Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau Logo
National Travel & Tourism Week May 2-7, 2016 
National Tourism Week Press Tour 2015
NEW IBERIA, La. --- The Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau will celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week May 1-7, 2016.

The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984, and established by a congressional joint resolution passed in 1983. Each year, localized events are presented in cities, states and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel, and generate tremendous exposure for all the good that travel inspires.

"A positive cycle of tourism growth continues," said Fran Thibodeaux, executive director of Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau. "In recent years visitors spent $46.1 million in Iberia Parish and contributed $2.1 million and $840,000, respectively, to state and local coffers."

May 2: Acadiana Tourism Luncheon

On May 2, the Acadiana tourism industry will gather for a Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission (LCVC) member luncheon at 11:45 a.m. with guest speaker Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser at Wyndham Garden in Lafayette.


May 3: Iberia Parish Day

IPCVB Communications Coordinator Brittany Racca invites all Iberia Parish tourism partners to join her in the booth for Iberia Parish Day on Tues. May 3, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Atchafalaya Welcome Center. The booth will have information on Iberia Parish and its numerous attractions, restaurants, accommodations and events. Please contact IPCVB to reserve your spot.

Everyone from partners to the public is invited to stop in and celebrate Iberia Parish Day. The Atchafalaya Welcome Center is located off I-10 at 1908 Atchafalaya River Hwy. in Breaux Bridge.


May 3: Bayou Teche Scenic Byway

Also on May 3 at 3:30 p.m., the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway will hold a press conference with Lt. Gov. Nungesser to launch the new byway at the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau (900 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. in Morgan City). The Bayou Teche Scenic Byway runs through St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes. Free byway posters will be given away. 


May 6: Familiarization Tour
IPCVB is partnering with LCVC to sponsor a familiarization tour for Acadiana tourism professionals on May 6 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. The tour will include stops in New Iberia and Lafayette. Iberia Parish tourism and hospitality industry professionals may contact Fran Thibodeaux here to join the free FAM tour.


May 9: Tourism Workshop

IPCVB will attend LCVC's Tourism Education Workshop May 9 at the Holiday Inn in Lafayette. We invite Iberia Parish tourism professionals who are members of LCVC to join us at this free workshop where Kathy Formosa, product manager with American Tours International will discuss understanding and developing the group and international travel market. The workshop is for LCVC members only. If you are a member of LCVC and want to attend the workshop reserve your spot with Eugenie Mitchell, LCVC Vice President of Tourism Sales here. To become a member, click here.


May 2 - 7: Social Media

We will showcase the people behind the tourism industry by posting photos of visitors who come to our welcome center all week on our social media channels. We invite all our tourism partners to come take their photo for free promotion. They can also take their own photos and tag us, IberiaTravel on Facebook, Iberia_Travel on Instagram and VisitIberia on Twitter. This year, #NTTW16 is the official hashtag of the US Travel Association.
 
### 
The Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official parish marketing agency promoting New Iberia, Avery Island, Jefferson Island, Jeanerette, Loreauville and Delcambre as a destination. Marketing programs target leisure travelers, business travelers, media, entertainment industry, and the travel trade including group tour planners, meeting planners, sports planners and special event planners. The bureau operates a parish welcome center in New Iberia.
 
For more information on parish events and tourism assets, call the bureau at 337-365-1540 or visit IberiaTravel.com
Download the Iberia Travel App:  IberiaTravel App  
Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau
2513 Hwy 14 | New Iberia, LA | 70560
(337) 365-1540 | (888) 942-3742
www.IberiaTravel.com